Where is Ben?

Where IS Ben?

Just thought I'd pop on here to let everyone know that I'm back from Iceland and have been exploring California since I've been back. In the last two weeks I've done the following:

• Talked to my Publisher Peachpit Press about starting a monthly Digital Photographer's Video Podcast (it will be for serious amateurs and should start in the next few months).
• Visited Neil & Susan Silverman in Santa Rosa, CA. (they are photographers and teach on-line classes at www.BetterPhoto.com). We went out shooting the workers picking grapes at a vineyard.
• Met with Doug at ThinkTank Photo in Santa Rosa about future camera bag designs and negotiated a discount for seminar attendees (more on that soon).
• Visited Lewis Kemper in Sacramento (he's another Photographer who also teaches for www.BetterPhoto.com that I see at least once a year when I speak at FotoFusion in Florida each January). Marv Miller (another photographer friend) drove over from Novato, CA to join Lewis and I for Lunch.
• Had an awesome home cooked dinner at Bert Monroy's place in Berkeley, CA (he's a hyper-realistic digital artist and good friend) with the crew that runs my Photoshop for Photographers seminars.
• Presented a Photoshop for Photographers seminar in Sacramento, CA.
• Had lunch with Curt Fargo from MicroTools. He's the guy I get all my camera sensor cleaning supplies from. If you're not comfortable cleaning your digital SLRs sensor, then be sure to visit his CleaningDigitalCameras.com site for info on how to do it right.
• Ran into photographers Greg Gorman and Jeff Schewe on the sand dunes in Mendocino, CA (they were teaching a photoshop/photography class for the week). I hung out with them for a night and had some absolutely awesome food and wine (along with George Jardine, Adobe's Lightroom Evangelist). I also went out shooting with the class the next day. If you ever want some great instruction and absolutely awesome food (Greg's chef Willy is amazing), then visit Greg's site and consider attending one of his Mendocino workshops.
• Did some night shooting in Eureka, CA including the Carson Mansion.
• Explored much of the Northern California redwoods. I'm currently in Crescent City, CA and just wish there would be a little fog to lower the contrast in the redwood groves.

I've been going in and out of wireless coverage areas, which has made cell and net access difficult. I'm heading towards Portland, OR, but still have two weeks before I need to get there. I plan to explore the Oregon coast and then photograph the waterfalls that are on the Oregon/Washington border.

I've been so busy meeting up with friends and shootings that I haven't had a chance to update my blog. I'll try to find some time over the next week to post a few photos that I've taken over the last month. FYI: The photo above was taken at sunrise on Friday near Fern Canyon, which is just North of Orick, CA

Lovin' Iceland

I had a great time teaching in Reykjavik and I am now I'm spending five days to explore the island.

I started my journey in Reykjavik (which is in the South West of Iceland). I then drove East to a large lake, which I believe is called pingvilla vatn, I then continued to Geysir (a geyser... I tried to attach a video I created by combining a bunch of shots I took with my 5D... not sure if it will play on this blog) and Gullfoss (a huge waterfall) before heading a bit South to Hella where I spent the night.

Download Geyes Movie.mov

My next day was spent driving East on Hwy. 1 past multiple waterfalls, an awesome lagoon full icebergs, I then stopped for the night near Hofn. That was one long drive as it brought me most of the way along Iceland's South coast.

Today I drove up the East coast passing countless waterfalls. At one point I saw at least 30 waterfalls in less than ten minutes. It was raining heavily most of the day which made it a less than ideal day for taking photographs. I've settled for the night in Egilsstadir and will be heading towards lake Myvatn tomorrow. 

After that, I'll be driving to Saudarkrokur for a night and then back to Reykjavik to fly back to the bus.

Heading to Iceland!

I'm off to Iceland for a week. I'll be teaching two half-day "Photoshop for Designers" classes and spending the rest of the time exploring the country and taking photographs.

My Jeep Was Broken Into

My Jeep got broken into while I was parked across the street from my publisher's office in Berkeley, CA. The thieves broke the passenger side window and got away with many valuables (all were covered except for the stupid bag that hold the gear needed to hook the Jeep to the bus).

It's taken me the good part of a week to locate replacement equipment, so I've been spending my time in Berkeley instead of exploring the Northern reaches of California. Just finding the clips and pins needed to connect the Jeep to the bus took a day.